Volunteer News and Opportunities

Get involved as a volunteer for Fish and Game's programs and events! Opportunities include becoming a volunteer instructor for Let's Go Fishing, OHRV safety programs, or Hunter Education; a Wonders of Wildlife docent or Fish & Wildlife Steward; or a Watershed Education Program liaison in schools to assist with water quality, macroinvertebrate, and fisheries programs. Help out at one of Fish and Game's education centers, or pitch in to assist the nongame and endangered wildlife program, help with fish stocking or monitor wildlife.

Click a project name for a brief description and contact info. Thanks!

What: Discover Wild NH Day
Where: NH Fish and Game Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord
When: Third Saturday in April
Description: Help distribute flyers, greet visitors, guide visitors to parking spots, help with kids crafts and much more.
Contact: Mark Beauchesne at 603-271-6355 or Mark.Beauchesne@wildlife.nh.gov

What: NH Turkey Brood Survey
Where: Statewide
When: May 15 - August 31
Description: Citizens are asked to report sightings of turkey flocks seen by filling out a simple electronic survey form posted on the Fish and Game website at www.wildnh.com/turkeybroodsurvey. Please do not report multiple sightings of the same flock.
Contact: Ted Walski at 603-352-9669
Visit: www.wildnh.com/turkeybroodsurvey

What: Winter Turkey Flock Monitoring
Where: Statewide
When: January 1 - March 31
Description: Citizens are asked to report sightings of turkey flocks seen by filling out a simple electronic survey form posted on the Fish and Game website at www.wildnh.com/turkeysurvey. Please do not report multiple sightings of the same flock.
Contact: Ted Walski at 603-352-9669
Visit: www.wildnh.com/turkeysurvey

What: Piping Plover Monitoring
Where: Hampton and Seabrook NH beaches
When: May through July (time commitment is flexible)
Description: Help monitor state endangered and federally threatened piping plover shorebirds as they nest and raise their young along the NH seacoast. Volunteers record observations, talk with beach goers, and help maintain fencing and signage. Volunteers must be comfortable working independently and outdoors.
Contact: Brendan Clifford at Brendan.clifford@wildlife.nh.gov or call the piping plover monitor at 603-419-9728 (note phone only active May through July).

What: Reptile and amphibian reporting program (RAARP)
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Report sightings of reptiles and amphibians to assist biologists in determining species abundance and distribution. Reports include species name, date, location, and a photo for verification. Reports of both rare and common species are important. Verified reports of rare species locations are mapped and stored in a database used for land protection and conservation purposes.
Contact: the NH Fish and Game Wildlife Division at 603-271-5859 or email wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/reptiles_amphibians.htm

What: Count bats for conservation
Where: Statewide
When: June - August
Description: Count bats as they exit their summer roost in June, then again later in the summer to see how the colony has grown as pups begin flying. Instructions and documents are available online.
Contact: the NH Fish and Game Wildlife Division at 603-271-2461 or email wildlife@wildlife.nh.govVisit: www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/bats/bat_count.html

What: Fish ladders
Where: Several towns in the seacoast area
When: Primarily weekends, holidays and some weekdays during April through June.
Description: Assist Fish and Game staff in monitoring coastal fish ladders during the spring and early summer fish migrations. Time commitment ranges between 3 and 8 hours per day, depending on the project.
Contact: Michael Dionne at 603-868-1095 or email michael.dionne@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.fishnh.com/marine

What: Rainbow smelt research project
Where: Several towns in the seacoast area
When: weekdays (Monday – Thursday) and holidays duringMarch and April.
Description: Assist Fish and Game staff in sampling coastal rivers for rainbow smelt spawning activity during early spring. Time commitment ranges between 3 and 8 hours per day, depending on the project.
Contact: Robert Eckert at 603-868-1095 or email robert.eckert@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.fishnh.com/marine

What: Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Survey
Where: New Hampshire coastal waters
When: Ongoing
Description: Volunteers of all experience levels are needed to report on striped bass fishing trips taken in New Hampshire waters. Information requested includes catch and effort information about each trip taken, whether for only a single trip or many. Anglers are also requested to measure the lengths of all striped bass they catch, including those fish that are released.
Contact: Rebecca Heuss at 603-868-1095 or email Rebecca.Heuss@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.fishnh.com/marine/striper_survey.html

What: Sea Run Brown Trout Survey
Where: Berry Brook, Rye
When: Ongoing
Description: Anglers record information such as length of each fishing trip, number of fish caught, the length and weight of each fish caught, location of capture, and comments to assist Fish and Game biologists with the management of the sea-run brown trout program. This survey can be completed in paper format and submitted before January each year.
Contact: Jessica Carloni at 603-868-1095 or email jessica.carloni@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.fishnh.com/marine/Berrys_Brook_sea_run_BT.html

What: Wonders of Wildlife Docents
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Attend a comprehensive training program including background information, teaching techniques and specific training on programs to provide wildlife presentations to school or youth groups about wildlife, habitats and the wise use of NH’s natural resources.
Contact: Mary Goodyear at mary.goodyear@wildlife.nh.gov or call 603-271-6649.
Visit: www.wildnh.com/Education/ed_WOW_docents.htm

What: Fish and Wildlife Stewards Program
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Stewards are trained to present programs to adult groups about the federal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program and how it benefits the work at NH Fish and Game.
Contact: Mary Goodyear at mary.goodyear@wildlife.nh.gov or 603-271-6649.

What: Watershed Education Program for Docents
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Attend a comprehensive training program to assist teachers with classroom curricula projects on watershed ecology and management strategies to improve and/or maintain the water quality in their watershed.
Contact: Judy Tumosa at 603-271-0456 or email judy.l.tumosa@wildlife.nh.gov.

What: Watershed Education Program for Teachers
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Attend a comprehensive training program to develop classroom curricula on watershed ecology and management. Water sampling and macroinvertebrate collection, ArcGIS computer models, and setting up a fish tank in the classroom are just some of the activities students may use to learn about how to improve and/or maintain the water quality in their local watershed.
Contact: Judy Tumosa at 603-271-0456 or email judy.l.tumosa@wildlife.nh.gov.

What: Let’s Go Fishing Volunteer Instructors
Where: Statewide
When: Ongoing
Description: Attend training in one, or all areas of interest including fly fishing, ice fishing, saltwater fishing and/or fly tying and then sign up to teach a whole class on your own or work with another instructor and just teach parts of a class.
Contact: Aquatic Resources Education Program at (603) 271-3212, or email aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: www.fishnh.com/Fishing/lets_go_fishing.htm#volunteer

What: Great Bay Discovery Center
Where: 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH
When: April - November
Description: Two main volunteer opportunities: Education Program Volunteers and Exhibit Room Volunteers. Education volunteers conduct programs on cultural and natural history for school children and can also help with summer kids' programs. Exhibit Room volunteers meet and greet guests, monitor the touch tank, take care of the store, answer the phone and other duties. There is also a need for volunteers to help out with the maintenance of the grounds and gardens at the Center and on other Reserve properties.
Contact: Melissa Brogle at 603-778-0015 or email melissa.brogle@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: greatbay.org/volunteer

What: Barry Conservation Camp
Where: Milan, NH
When: Ongoing
Description: Help is needed with ongoing improvement projects at Fish and Game's summer camp for youth. Volunteers can join a work party, contribute specific construction skills or materials, take on a particular project, or help raise funds for an endowment to ensure that camp is always here to nurture New Hampshire's future outdoors-men and women.
Contact: Mark Beauchesne at 603-271-6355 or Mark.Beauchesne@wildlife.nh.gov.

What: Wildlife GardenDemonstration Area
Where: Stratham, N.H.
When: On-going
Description: Help us get growing from the ground up! Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is creating a backyard wildlife garden on the shores of the Squamscott River in Stratham. It will be a place where people can come learn how to enjoy a beautiful, low-maintenance backyard, while providing shelter, food and water for wildlife. The garden will be established and maintained by community volunteers.
Contact: Melissa Brogle at 603-778-0015 or email melissa.brogle@wildlife.nh.gov
Visit: greatbay.org/programs/community-wildlife-garden.htm